Rayados edge Astros 5-3 in Sunday's series finale

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (May 6, 2018) - Yeyson Yrizarri tied a career-high with four hits in a 4-for-4 afternoon to lead the Winston-Salem Rayados to a 5-3 win over Buies Creek on Sunday afternoon. The Dash (17-13) rebranded as the Winston-Salem Rayados for the first time on Sunday as part of Minor League Baseball's "Copa De La Diversión" initiative to embrace participating teams' local Hispanic/Latino communities. 
Buies Creek (18-12) started the scoring in the second, when Osvaldo Duarte came around to score on Chuckie Robinson's single against Rayados starter Dylan Cease (4-1). The Astros tacked on another run in the top of the fifth on two singles and an error to make it a 2-0 game. 

Winston-Salem's offense was kept at bay through the first four frames by Astros starter Hector Perez (0-1), notching just one hit on an Yrizarri double, his first of two on the day. But, the bats woke up in the fifth.
After Yermin Mercedes was hit by a pitch to start the frame, Zach Remillard doubled to put runners on second and third for Yrizarri. He promptly slashed a double down the right-field line to bring home both runners and knot the game at two.
Later in the frame, after walks from Joel Booker and Luis Basabe, Blake Rutherford drove a triple into the right-center field gap to bring home two more and give the Rayados a 4-2 advantage. Rutherford's triple extends his hitting streak to nine games. 
Cease completed his afternoon by facing the minumum in the sixth, lowing his season ERA to 1.95. The right-hander scattered eight hits, allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out six and walking two in his six-inning effort.
Meanwhile, the Rayados added an insurance run in the eighth. Gavin Sheets drew his 20th walk of the season and moved to second on a wild pitch to put himself in scoring position for Remillard, who brought him home with a single to make it 5-2. 
Zach Thompson struck out five across two scoreless frames out of the Rayados bullpen before handing the ball to Mike Morrison in the ninth. Morrison got two quick outs, but surrended a run before retiring Abraham Toro to end the game and earn his second save of the season. With the win, Winston-Salem finishes its six-game homestand with a 5-1 record, outscoring opponents 40-20. 
Winston-Salem hits the road to Salem, Va., to start a three-game series with the Red Sox on Monday night at Haley Toyota Field. Right-hander Luis Martinez (1-1, 4.84 ERA) starts for the Dash against Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck (1-3, 4.35 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. Fans can catch all of the action on wsdash.com/broadcast, MiLB.tv and the TuneIn Radio App.
Following its three-game series with Salem, Winston-Salem returns home on Thursday, May 10, to begin a four-game series against the Down East Wood Ducks. Promotions during the homestand include Lowes Foods Thirsty Thursday with select beers for $1 through the seventh inning, a Fireworks Friday, a Chick-fil-A Four Pack offer for Saturday and a Mother's Day celebration on Sunday. Following Satuday and Sunday's contests, kids can run the bases, powered by New Balance Winston-Salem. For tickets and more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.